For those hoping to find the perfect reason to jump into bed, you’ll be happy to know that sex is actually good for you. There are plenty of amazing benefits to diving under the sheets with a partner, and they include everything from helping you keep your blood pressure down to giving your body a fighting chance against colds. It turns out that even the type of sex you are having could make a difference to your health.
For example, those enjoying vanilla sex aren’t actually as healthy as their BDSM loving counterparts. At least, studies suggest this. So what is it that makes BDSM lovers ‘healthier’ than vanilla users when it comes to sex?
Some of the benefits of sex
Sex is good for you. Not only does it feel amazing, but it can have an incredible impact on your body. For example, we know that sexually active people tend to take fewer sick days. This is because they have higher levels of things such as antibodies, which can help to fight off infections, viruses, and other nasty intruders. It also helps to release the body’s feel-good hormone, which can leave you happier and less stressed.
Another big plus? It totally counts as exercise. Okay, so it might not be a great replacement for your gym workout, but it is said to burn around five calories per minute of activity. It increases your heart rate, which is a huge help to keep your heart healthy. You’ll also find yourself using muscles that you might not do ordinarily, so you’re working different areas of your body.
If you are hurting for some reason, such as a headache or period pains, an orgasm can actually help. Orgasms are an effective way to block pain, as your body will release a hormone to raise your pain threshold. For women, not only can it lessen period pain, but it can also shorten the length of your cycle. When you orgasm, your body contracts, which can help to shed the lining of the womb faster. This means fewer days bleeding and more orgasms, which seems perfect to me!
Typical views on BDSM
When it comes to sex, a number of people like to keep things vanilla. They simply don’t see the appeal in being tied up by their partner, or in being disciplined by them. It isn’t for everyone, but for those without knowledge of it, BDSM is a bit of a scary place. They might assume that it is like Fifty Shades, where the dominant party will completely ignore when the submissive party uses the safe word.
It isn’t. BDSM is actually a lot of fun. It helps to build your relationship with your partner as you have to have complete trust in each other. You also need strong communication skills to ensure that you are both on the same page. Since BDSM requires you to push your limits, it is important that you and your partner have talked things through in detail to ensure there are no misunderstandings.
Of course, to the outside world, BDSM is all about hurting each other. They don’t consider the thrill you might get when that paddle hits your ass. They don’t think about how being restrained makes you concentrate more on what your partner is doing and the way that they move, instead of jumping straight to sex. Your priorities change when it comes to kinky sex, which might be why BDSM lovers are seen as healthier.
BDSM lovers are healthier!
So what about BDSM lovers? Anyone having sex can enjoy the above benefits from it, but it seems that BDSM lovers might have the edge. One particular study found that those into BDSM “either did not differ from the general population” when it came to psychology, or that they “differed in the more favorable [sic] direction”.
The study looked at 902 BDSM practitioners and 434 vanilla participants. They got them to fill in a questionnaire about things such as sensitivity to rejection, well-being, and style of attachment in relationships. The participants did not know the aim of the study beforehand, as they all had been told that it was looking at human behaviour and nothing more.
The results were pretty surprising. They found that BDSM lovers were more extroverted and open to new experiences than their vanilla counterparts. They also discovered that they were less neurotic and seemed to take rejection easier. Even those who admitted that they were submissive scored higher than the vanilla participants. This was surprising to many, as submissives are often seen as more vulnerable and sometimes seen as weak by those without a good knowledge of the BDSM lifestyle.
BDSM vs. vanilla
It seems that living a kinky lifestyle could actually be better for your psychological health than we thought! Not only is having sex great for your physical and mental health, but exploring the world of BDSM can also be good for you. I don’t know about you, but that inspires me to make some kinky plans for the weekend.
Are you surprised by the results of this study? You shouldn’t be, as I have already spoken in the past about how good BDSM is for you. It seems that studies are eager to show it is great, so why not leave your comment below with your thoughts. What do you think it is about the world of kink that makes it great for us?
Since then she has gained a fine reputation with her blogs on sex advice, sexual health and amusing news stories from around the globe. She is also a campaigner for the rights of sex workers from all over the world.
In her spare time, Lara keeps herself active by going running, and is something of a film buff. She also loves to go travelling.
- Adding the correct “favourites” to your profile - April 24, 2023
- Common Mistakes Made During Sex And How To Fix Them - April 25, 2019
- Your Hay Fever Could Be Eased By More Sex! - April 2, 2019
Please log in here to leave a comment.